Before your departure

If you are eligible to receive Swedish study aid, it is advisable to apply to CSN for two semesters (the study semester and the following semester), even if you are going abroad for only one semester. Receiving your transcript and getting your credits registered in Ladok may take some time. Sometimes you may need to attach a document confirming the semester dates at the host university (Letter of Acceptance or Academic Calendar). Do not forget to notify CSN if your study conditions change.

More about study allowances – CSN website

• First find out if you need a visa for the country where you are going to study. If so, you are responsible for the visa application process.
• Next, find out if you may apply for a visa from Sweden or if you have to apply from your country of origin.
• Make sure that your passport is valid for the entire study period and for an additional six months after your study period. 
• You cannot apply for a visa before you have received your Letter of Acceptance. However, do look into which documents you need for your visa application beforehand. Sometimes there may be requirements such as a medical certificate.

Find out what vaccinations are recommended for the country where you are going to study. Also look into this for countries you may want to visit in connection to your exchange.

About vaccinations – vaccinationsguiden.se (in Swedish)

The WHO also provides travel recommendations and information about vaccinations.

Recommendations and vaccination information – WHO website

Remember to bring documentation that proves which vaccinations you already have. It is difficult and may be expensive to sort that out while abroad.

Please note that Student UT does not cover vaccination costs.

Improve your language skills by taking a course in the host language before starting the exchange semester. Some universities may offer students an introductory language course before/when the semester starts (in some cases free of charge). Please note that these language courses often cannot be accredited as part of your degree. Any costs for language courses should be paid by the student.
 

Receiving your Letter of Acceptance and your visa may take time. Your coordinator at Lund University is not in a position to speed up these processes. Therefore we recommend leisure travels after your exchange period.
 

Don’t forget to apply for courses at Lund University for the semester following your study period abroad.

Apply or courses – University Admissions website

As an exchange student, you are still a student at Lund University, and it must be possible for your exchange studies to be accredited towards your degree. Learn more about credit transfer on the faculties' websites and follow the instructions from your faculty to assure transfer of credits.

If you change courses after arriving at the host university, you must ensure that your new study plan can be accredited at Lund University. This is usually done by

• a study counsellor
• your home department/faculty or
• the international office at your faculty.

Find out what applies to you.

The exchange agreements of Lund University are reciprocal. This means that we are committed to receive as many incoming
exchange students as we send. As the housing situation is always a challenge for incoming students, we would appreciate your help. If you are interested in subletting, please contact your landlord and BoPoolen. 

Subletting your accommodation – Bopoolen website

If you have been accepted for studies within the Nordic countries or in Europe, you can apply for the Nordplus Scholarship or the Erasmus+ mobility grant.

• About the Nordplus grant
• About the Easmus+ mobility grant

Also make sure to watch the film 'The Erasmus mobility grant within Europe' further down on this webpage.

If you have been accepted for exchange studies outside of Europe you may apply for the Crafoord Foundation travel grant.

• About the Crafoord Foundation travel grant

Links to more information about financial matters and scholarships

• About financial matters for current students
• About travel scholarships for current students
• About scholarships for current students
   

​​​​Important documents to bring:

• Letter of Acceptance
• Up-to-date Ladok transcript
• Learning agreement for Erasmus students
• Insurance documentation
• Financial documentation (study allowance, grants, bank statement)
• Valid passport (valid during your exchange period and at least an additional six months after)
• Leave a copy of your passport at home
• Visa
• Vaccination history
• Medical prescriptions. If you take medication, don’t forget to ask your doctor to issue prescriptions that you can bring with you. If you carry medicine in your luggage, we recommended that you have a signed document from a doctor certifying that the medicine is for your personal use (for customs). You must also make sure that the medicine is legal in the country you are visiting.

Studying abroad means that you must be prepared to take great personal responsibility.

This includes

• keeping track of deadlines
• making sure that you are well structured and
• being prepared to search for information on your own.

Remember that it is your duty to ensure that we can reach you while you are an exchange student. If you change your email address, do not forget to notify your coordinator at Lund University.

Follow the laws and regulations of the host university and the host country. Remember that you are representing Lund University while you are an exchange student.

Do not forget to register for the exchange. You do this in Ladok in connection with the start of the semester.

It is important that you know whom to turn to if you have questions.

Questions about the application process

In the first place, you should contact your exchange coordinator at Lund University when you have questions. Your exchange coordinator is either at your faculty or at External Relations.

Contact with the host university should primarily go through your exchange coordinator at Lund University.

Questions about course selection, course changes and credit transfer

All questions about

• course selection
• course changes and
• credits transfer

are handled by your home institution/programme. They will accredit your courses abroad within your programme/degree.

Questions about living abroad and the introductory programme at the start of the semester

Visit the partner university's webpages and carefully read their emails in the first place. Once you arrive at your host university, find out where the International Office is. They will help you find your way.

Students who are to travel abroad for

• exchange studies
• internships or
• field studies

are covered by the student insurance Student OUT, provided that the student receives higher education credits and is enrolled in Ladok for their period abroad.

The insurance is only valid in the country of study, from two weeks before to two weeks after the exchange period (including preparatory orientation weeks and the examination period).

Read up on the insurance cover and how to make a claim on Kammarkollegiet's website.

Terms and conditions for Student OUT on Kammerkollegiet's website

About the European Health Insurance Card on Försäkringskassan's website

Student OUT covers the student if the insured is in Sweden and conducts studies online from a university abroad. The insurance covers personal injury protection for accidents during the distance studies if the accident is in direct connection with the studies to be performed.

All students going to countries outside the EU will get an insurance document (Medical Insurance Card or certificate printed by yourself from the application database SoleMove). Note that some countries or universities do not accept Student OUT. In North America it is often compulsory to pay for the University’s own insurance.

As an EU/EEA citizen going to EU/EEA countries you are also covered by Student OUT. Print a certificate yourself from the application database SoleMove. However, most importantly, bring a European Health Insurance Card which gives you health care for the same price in public hospitals and health care facilities as for the citizens of the country. If you are a Swedish citizen and are registered at the Tax Office in Sweden, please order your card via the link below. 

Order a European Health Insurance Card if you are a Swedish citizen through Försäkringskassan's website (in Swedish)

If you are not a Swedish citizen, you need to talk to the state insurance company in your (EU) country of origin.

Find the relevant insurance company for your country on the European Commission's website

The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides advice and information for Swedish travellers about the security situation in other countries. If the security situation is dangerous, unpredictable or very changeable, advice against travel can be issued.

The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs can issue two types of advice against travel. The validity of the Student OUT insurance depends on which type applies. 

The two types of advice against travel are:

1. Advice against unnecessary travel
   If the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs issues advice against unnecessary travel to a specific country, the insurance Student OUT is still valid for studies in that country.
    
2. Advice against all travel
   If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against all travel to a specific country, the Student OUT insurance does not apply. This also applies if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advices against all travel to a specific region within a country. The insurance is not valid in that specific region in that case (learn more below).

Student OUT does not apply:

• When the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against all travel to a country or a region (new regulation valid from 1 July 2021). The advice against travel ('reseavrådan') from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs must have existed on the day of departure for the new regulation to apply. If you started your studies before the advice was announced, the insurance is valid for a transitional period (maximum 30 days), so that you have time to leave the country and travel back to Sweden.
• In case of violation of the law. The insurance does not cover legal protection if the you violate the laws of the host country. What may appear to be a minor offence in Sweden may be punishable in another country.
• For travel outside the country of study during the study period, nor does it apply for private travel in connection with the study period, apart from the two weeks before and after the study period. The insurance applies for study trips to another country with a supervisor, provided that Kammarkollegiet has been informed before the trip.

See the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for advice against travel per country (In Swedish)

See the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for a definition of advice against travel (In Swedish)

• Have you had to seek care, buy medication or made decisions on your property? Then you should file a claim.
• The host university provides advice and support on most issues. Follow their instructions.
• In case of serious events (natural disasters, political unrest, epidemics), you should check the Foreign Ministry's recommendations.
• Note that Swedish embassies and consulates abroad can be contacted if necessary.
• Keep in touch with your coordinator at Lund University.
• Keep in touch with your relatives.
• Students with Kammarkollegiet's insurance can receive emergency help with a return journey via Falck Global Assistance. Read more below.
• Find terms and conditions and file a claim on Kammarkollegiet’s website

Falck Global Assistance

Students insured through Kammarkollegiet can receive emergency assistance from and be repatriated by Falck Global Assistance.

Telephone: +46 (0) 858 771 749
Email: fga [at] se [dot] falck [dot] com

Always contact Falck Global Assistance as soon as possible if you have had an accident abroad (both within and outside the EU/EEA). They will help you with advice on where to go and what to do, and the claim will be easier to handle when you return. They can also help you with emergency travel and expensive emergency medical costs.

• If you visit a health care clinic or a hospital, be sure to keep the original receipts.
• If you have been the victim of an assault or theft, you must immediately report this to the local police authority and save the police report.
• Fill in the claim form that you can find on Kammarkollegiet's website
  Medical insurance, claim form – kammarkollegiet.se
   
• Make copies of receipts and other relevant documents and keep them. The original documents should be enclosed with your claim form.
• Send your claim form and original receipts/original documents to your coordinator at Lund University. Your coordinator will sign the application and forward it to Kammarkollegiet.

The processing of your claim takes approximately three weeks. You will be notified of the outcome via email by Kammarkollegiet.